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| '''''The Joke''''' ({{lang-cs|'''Zert'''}}) is a 1969 Czechoslovakian film by director ]. Based on ]'s ], ''The Joke'' tells the story of Ludvik Jahn, a man expelled from the ] for an idle joke to his girlfriend, and the revenge he later seeks through adultery. The film was produced during the political liberalization of the 1968 ] and contains many scenes which satirize and criticize the country's communist leadership. ] wrote that the film was "possibly the most shattering indictment of totalitarianism to come out of a Communist country".<ref name=CC>{{cite web |url=http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/2269-eclipse-series-32-pearls-of-the-czech-new-wave |title=Eclipse Series 32: Pearls of the Czech New Wave |author=Michael Koresky |publisher=The Criterion Collection |archivedate=28 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BmB39cdd |accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref> | '''''The Joke''''' ({{lang-cs|'''Zert'''}}) is a 1969 Czechoslovakian film by director ]. It is considered one of the last films of the ] movement. | ||
| Based on ]'s ], ''The Joke'' tells the story of Ludvik Jahn, a man expelled from the ] for an idle joke to his girlfriend, and the revenge he later seeks through adultery. The film was produced during the political liberalization of the 1968 ] and contains many scenes which satirize and criticize the country's communist leadership. ] wrote that the film was "possibly the most shattering indictment of totalitarianism to come out of a Communist country".<ref name=CC>{{cite web |url=http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/2269-eclipse-series-32-pearls-of-the-czech-new-wave |title=Eclipse Series 32: Pearls of the Czech New Wave |author=Michael Koresky |publisher=The Criterion Collection |archivedate=28 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BmB39cdd |accessdate=28 October 2012}}</ref> | |||
| == Plot == | |||
| The movie begins with scientist Ludvik Jahn returning to his hometown after two decades away. He is interviewed by Helena, an attractive older woman whom he begins to seduce. Jahn then discovers Helena is married to Pavel, an old rival. | |||
| Jahn flashes back to his college days and his love for Marketa, a devout believer in communism. In an attempt to make the humorless Marketa lighten up, Jahn sends her a postcard reading "Optimism is the opium of mankind. A 'healthy spirit' stinks of stupidity. Long live Trotsky! Yours, Ludvik". Marketa turns the postcard over to the Party, however, and Jahn is brought before a party hearing to answer for his words. Pavel, a friend who had pledged to help him, calls in the meeting for Jahn's expulsion from the college and the Communist Party, and Marketa joins the vote against him. | |||
| Jahn then undergoes six years of "reeducation", which are split between prison, mining, and army service under a sadistic drill sergeant. While in the army, a true believer of communism in his unit appeals to higher authorities against their treatment; when the man is consequently expelled from the Party, he commits suicide. | |||
| In the present, Jahn successfully seduces Helena, motivated more from a desire for revenge on Pavel than attraction to her. Though Helena falls in love with him, he discovers that she and Pavel have long been estranged, and Pavel has a new lover of his own. | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 13:23, 29 October 2012
Czechoslovakia film| The Joke | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jaromil Jireš |
| Screenplay by | Jaromil Jires and Milan Kundera |
| Produced by | Milos Stejskal |
| Starring | Josef Somr, Jana Dítetová, Ludek Munzar |
| Cinematography | Jan Curík |
| Edited by | Josef Valusiak |
| Music by | Zdenek Pololáník |
| Running time | 81 min |
| Country | Czechoslovakia |
| Language | Czech |
The Joke (Template:Lang-cs) is a 1969 Czechoslovakian film by director Jaromil Jireš. It is considered one of the last films of the Czech New Wave movement.
Based on Milan Kundera's novel of the same name, The Joke tells the story of Ludvik Jahn, a man expelled from the Czechoslovakian Communist Party for an idle joke to his girlfriend, and the revenge he later seeks through adultery. The film was produced during the political liberalization of the 1968 Prague Spring and contains many scenes which satirize and criticize the country's communist leadership. Amos Vogel wrote that the film was "possibly the most shattering indictment of totalitarianism to come out of a Communist country".
Plot
The movie begins with scientist Ludvik Jahn returning to his hometown after two decades away. He is interviewed by Helena, an attractive older woman whom he begins to seduce. Jahn then discovers Helena is married to Pavel, an old rival.
Jahn flashes back to his college days and his love for Marketa, a devout believer in communism. In an attempt to make the humorless Marketa lighten up, Jahn sends her a postcard reading "Optimism is the opium of mankind. A 'healthy spirit' stinks of stupidity. Long live Trotsky! Yours, Ludvik". Marketa turns the postcard over to the Party, however, and Jahn is brought before a party hearing to answer for his words. Pavel, a friend who had pledged to help him, calls in the meeting for Jahn's expulsion from the college and the Communist Party, and Marketa joins the vote against him.
Jahn then undergoes six years of "reeducation", which are split between prison, mining, and army service under a sadistic drill sergeant. While in the army, a true believer of communism in his unit appeals to higher authorities against their treatment; when the man is consequently expelled from the Party, he commits suicide.
In the present, Jahn successfully seduces Helena, motivated more from a desire for revenge on Pavel than attraction to her. Though Helena falls in love with him, he discovers that she and Pavel have long been estranged, and Pavel has a new lover of his own.
References
- Michael Koresky. "Eclipse Series 32: Pearls of the Czech New Wave". The Criterion Collection. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.